Home security is a topic that you, hopefully, take extremely seriously. If it is not, it should be. Sadly, who knows where to start? The information included here will help you figure out what to do.
Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You don’t know how many keys have been handed out previously. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. When you lose your keys, have your locks rekeyed.
TIP! After you buy your new house, get new locks. You don’t know who might have a key.
Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. If you do give out a key to such individuals, be certain you know their reputation for honesty. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If applicable, call the BBB to inquire about their reputation.
Provide the house key to your professional house cleaner, but only if you fully trust them. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Check the housekeeper’s references very carefully. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.
TIP! Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. Be sure to check out the background of any housekeeper you plan to provide with a key to your home.
Spare Key
If your garage is attached to your home, always keep it secure. Many people are concerned about people entering their garages to gain access to their homes. Use a C-clamp to secure the door if it’s off track.
TIP! Be sure you have secured your attached garage. Lots of folks are concerned about burglars gaining access to the garage and then the home, but this can be addressed.
Is your dog outside even if you are away? Your pet might just be the perfect place to stash a spare key to your home. Attach your spare key inside the collar of your dog. Especially if your dog is not very friendly, this will help keep your key safe.
You have a choice on who installs your security system, don’t be afraid to say no if something doesn’t feel right. This is especially important when it comes to the company employees who will be installing your system. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.
TIP! Find a home security company you can trust. This is particularly true if you feel uncomfortable with a company you are dealing with.
Keep your most precious belongings inside a safe. Doing so can protect your valuables in the event of a robbery. Hide the safe in a very hard to reach place like the attic or a closet in the basement.
You can hide certain valuables within your walls. This does not mean that you should make alterations to your walls. There should be pre-cut spaces throughout your home that will suffice. Consider unwiring an electrical socket that isn’t used and storing your valuable jewelry.
TIP! Keep valuables hidden within the walls. This does not mean that you should make alterations to your walls.
If your social networking accounts are filled with folks you do not really know, do not announce vacations on the sites. Though trips are always fun to talk about, you may be doing little more than telling burglars the best times to visit your house.
Don’t ever place your spare key under your mat or next you a plant box. You might think this protects you against being locked out of your home, but it also gives intruders access to your home. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.
TIP! Do that put spare keys above door frames or under door mats. You may believe you are making life easier for yourself, but you may just be giving thieves simple access to your house.
Check out your garage to ensure that it is secure. Many people are concerned about people entering their garages to gain access to their homes. Try putting a C-clamp on your garage door track. This will stop the door from rising if you want to keep it closed.
Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from outside the home. Large windows at the home’s front can be beautiful, but it can make it easier for criminals to see inside. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.
TIP! Be sure your valuables are not visible from the outside of your house. Large front windows are great, but they also allow others to peer into your home.
Local Police Department
After bringing home a big-ticket item, such as an appliance or electronic device, avoid leaving the packages on the curb before trash day. Exposing the box to view ahead of time signals a burglar that he will find this item in your home.
TIP! If you bought any expensive or large items, don’t throw the boxes out until the day trash is scheduled to be removed. Exposing the box to view ahead of time signals a burglar that he will find this item in your home.
Contact the local police department to find out more about the protection programs they offer. Your local police department will help you with preventive measures, inspect your home and show you how to mark your valuables so they can easily be found. Get in touch today.
You should change all the locks if you just bought or rented a new home. While the person that previously had the home may seem okay, you don’t know who they actually are. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.
TIP! Be sure to replace all locks on a home you have bought. Even though the person who sold your home to you may seem honest, you simply can’t know for certain.
Keep your car in your garage if you have one. This will keep thieves from stealing it or harming it. Keeping your car out of sight is also good for thwarting burglars’ attempts to determine when you are likely to be away from home.
If the home you are moving into is not brand new, you should change the locks on all the doors. Although the tenant before might have turned their key in, they might still have a duplicate key. You can purchase the locks and install them yourself to ensure you’re the only person that has a key.
TIP! The number one thing you must do if you’re moving into a new place is have the locks changed. The previous tenant or owner may not have the keys, but you don’t know if they made copies for themselves or others.
It is important that you check your home security system periodically, at least once a year. Make certain the security company you choose provides for regular inspections. A number of things may cause your alarm system to have problems, including mother nature and wild animals. You might be unaware of problems that arise in some cases.
Before you let anyone into your house, thoroughly check their references. It wouldn’t hurt to also perform a background check. You do not know if the people you hire are trustworthy, so do not give them a key to your home.
TIP! Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. Try doing a background check to look at their criminal history.
Try installing motion-sensor lights. They turn on only if someone is nearby. This will discourage would be thieves and alert you to any movement on your property. Get in the habit of checking and replacing the bulbs as necessary to ensure the lights remain effective.
If you are searching for ways to make your home more secure, one inexpensive way to accomplish this is to purchase exterior lights that have motion detectors. This is a fairly inexpensive way to provide light and security to your property. If you position motion detectors properly, it is very hard for someone to sneak onto the property.
TIP! You can make your home safer by investing in some motion detectors and outside lights. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard.
Do not place your spare keys under your mat or even in plant boxes. While it can help you if you’re locked out, you could be letting intruders inside your home. Burglars always know just where to look. Rather, give the key to a neighbor to hold.
Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. Companies who have been around for years will show that they have what it takes to succeed. In addition, it proves that they provide people with reliable services they can depend on. It can ease your mind when you know you’re not doing business with a company that might not be around tomorrow.
TIP! Before signing up for home security, find out how long they’ve been in business. A reliable home security company is one that has a long history in the community and can offer references from satisfied customers.
Make sure that none of your valuables can be seen from the outside. Large windows at the home’s front can be beautiful, but it can make it easier for criminals to see inside. If your windows face a street, be sure they’re always covered and have your valuables safe.
In the event you find your door open upon arriving home, you should never enter and investigate yourself. This can be dangerous since the intruder might still be on the property. Call the cops and let them do the initial walk through.
TIP! If you get home and see the door is slightly open, don’t go inside by yourself to investigate. A thief might still be in there, which could put you in danger.
When selecting a home alarm system, choose one that protects many areas of your home, not just the doors. Windows offer easy access to a potential thief. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. Do this to keep you and your family safe.
Wireless home security systems are becoming more popular. A wired system is probably less expensive, but wires are a hassle. On the other hand, wireless systems use their own power and have easier installations.
TIP! Think about getting a wireless security system for the home. While systems with wires are cheaper, you have to rewire your home and worry about power outages.
Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. Though you may not suspect that the seller is up to something, you still need to be careful. If the previous owners have never changed the locks, there could be people out there who owned the house before them and still have keys to your house.
If you haven’t gotten a paper shredder, it may be time to purchase one. Unshredded documents can offer up a wealth of valuable personal information to thieves, including enough of your schedule to allow them to pinpoint the best time for a burglary. You can tear your documents up by hand before disposing of them if a shredder is out of your price range.
TIP! If you do not already have a paper shredder, you may want to think about investing in one. Thieves may look through your garbage for information.
You want to always keep your home and family safe. There is no doubt about it. The smartest way to do so isn’t always obvious, unless you’ve been studying it; hopefully this article has given you some useful tips.
If you buy something that is expensive, you need to make sure you don’t leave empty boxes curbside. Burglars will see those boxes and realize that there are valuable things in your home for them to get. Break down the empty boxes whenever possible.
TIP! If you just purchased electronics, do not leave empty boxes outside. Burglars can see these and they know that you have them in your home, increasing your chances of a break-in.